CORTICONIC (DFM.AD001.001)

Thematic area

Physical sciences and technologies of matter

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute for microelectronics and microsystems (IMM)

Project manager

GUGLIELMO FORTUNATO
Phone number: 0649934594
Email: GUGLIELMO.FORTUNATO@CNR.IT

Abstract

Corticonics, echoing electronics, consists of abstracting salient features of cortical organization for use in the simulation of the cortex executing higher level brain functions. Our final objective is to identify computational principles of the cerebral cortex underlying network dynamic patterns. In our long term vision, interfacing with the brain will take place: i) Towards the brain, delivering stimuli onto the nervous tissue to induce recovery, correct imbalances or to augment function and cognition, and ii) From the brain: to
be able to operate machines by thinking. Both interfaces require a detailed understanding of brain function. Our project has a multilevel experimental approach, covering scales from the micro to the macro, combined with a theoretical/computational approach. We take slow oscillations observed during sleep or anaesthesia as a basic dynamic pattern constrained by features of the excitability distribution in the neural tissue. We aim to identify these features by analysing the generation and propagation of activity and its susceptibility to
interference.

Goals

Sviluppo di un sistema ultracompatto includente:
1) array di microelettrodi ultraflessibili, in grado di monitorare segnali cerebrali, ed aventi bassa impedenza (utilizzo di materiali nanostrutturati e/o polimeri conduttivi per la formazione degli elettrodi);
2) elettronica di acquisizione del segnale proveniente dal array di microelettrodi connessa direttamente all'array, allo scopo di ridurre il rumore introdotto da connettori e cavi;
3) elettronica di controllo del segnale di elettrostimolazione, integrata alla scheda di acquisizione e connessa sempre direttamente all'array;
4) possibilità di operare in regime cosiddetto "closed-loop", in cui la stimolazione elettrica può essere controllata in base ai segnali registrati.

Start date of activity

01/01/2013

Keywords

microelettrodi, elettronica flessibile, brain machine interface

Last update: 02/08/2025